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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1..

' G. STRINGER.

TRACTION ENGINE.

No. 319,344. Patentd June 2, 1885.

WITNESSES (No Model.) v 4 Sheets- Sheet 2. G. 'STRINGER.

TRACTION ENGINE. No. 319,344. Patented June 2, 1885..

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

r G. STRINGER.

TRACTION ENGINE.

No. 319,344. Patented June 2, 1885.

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G. STRINGER.

TRACTION ENGINE.

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it rains 1 Parent FFECEO GEORGE STRINGER, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO EDGAR M. BIRDSALL, OF SAME PLACE.

TRACTION-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 319,344, dated June 2, 1885'.

Application filed March 19, 1885. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, GEORGE STRINGER, of Auburn, in the county of Cayuga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traction-Engines, of whloh the followingis aspecification, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a traction-engine embodying my improvement-s. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of the same. Fig. 3 is a front elevation drawn on a larger scale. Fig. 4. 1s a sectional view drawn on the line 4 4 of Fig. 5 is another sectional view, part- 1y 1n plan, drawn on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Flgs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 are details of parts, detached, Fig. 7 being drawn on the line 7 7 of Fig. 5. V

The object of my invention is to enable the operator to control the direction of travel of a traction-engine when running by the power of steam, as in traveling from place to place, and also to provide means for enabling the boiler to ride upon a spring whenever the eng1ne 1s in motion, as in traveling from place to place, and then to enable the boiler to rest upon unyielding bearings whenever the englne is in position for work at a given place as a stationary engine.

Referring to the letters upon the drawings, A indicates the boiler, B the front wheels, and C the hind wheels, of a traction-engine suitable for use by agriculturists. The axles proper of the front wheels are distinct from each other, and are made of T-shaped castings D, which are journaled vertically in suitable brackets, E, upon either end of the bar or beam F, corresponding to the ordinary front axle of a vehicle. front wheels are connected together by means of arms H H and link I. One of them is provided with a segmental gear, K, which gears with the thread of an endless screw, L, upon.

the end of a rod, M, provided at the rear part of the engine with a hand-wheel, N. By turning the hand-wheel the operator can cause the segmental gear K to turn to the right or left, and with it the front axle and wheel, to which it is rigidly connected by a key, as illustrated, or in any suitable manner. Whenever this These T-shaped axles proper of the segmental gear is turned, the link I will communicate the same motion in the same direction to the other front wheel and axle. The result is that the operator, through the instrumentality of the rod and handwheel, can guide the advance of the engine readily as he chooses. The front bar or beam, F, which I will call the main front axle, is composed of two bars, 0 and P, bolted together, so as to leave a space between them in the middle. The bearings of the front wheel-axles proper are composed of castings or brackets E, into which the ends of the main front axle are inserted and bolted, as indicated in the drawings.

Fig. 7 illustrates the details of construction of the mechanism connecting the Worm and the segmental gear. The rod M is provided with ayoke, 1%, which has two spurs, S, that entersockets T in the worm. (See Figs. 7 and 8.) This worm turns freely upon its shaft U, which is secured by a screw-nut in a bearing or bracket, V, that is pivoted at IV to the main front axle. This bracket or bearing is provided with two or more pin-holes, X, and a pin, Y, and it can be turned upon its pivot to bring the worm into engagement with the cogs of the segmental gear, or out of engagement therewith, and the pin can be placed in the proper hole to hold it in the proper position of engagement or disengagement, as desired. The object of this is to provide for disengaging the segmental gear and worm whenever it may be desirable to draw or guide the engine by horses in traveling from place to place.

In order to get the "IF-shaped front wheelaxles proper into place in their bearings, the segmental rack is made detachable, and is put in place and keyed after the axles have been placed in their bearings. In order to get them in their bearings I provide an enlarged opening in the upper parts of the bearings, as well illustrated in Fig. 4, and after the axles have been inserted through the enlarged opening abushing,Z,is screwed around them, and is secured in place by means of a small screw, a. Then the bushings and axles being in place, the segmental gear is afterward put in place and keyed. One of the arms, H,is made a part of the segmental rack,

IO constituting the main front axle, and merely serves as a stay to keep the main front axle at right angles to the boiler. The casting bis composed of a central hollow cylindrical part and webs extending out either side, by means I of which it is bolted to the adjacent parts, as.

above described.

(1 indicates a spring-barrel containing a spring, 6, for supporting the boiler when the traction-engine is traveling from place to place. The spring-barrel is provided with lugs f, which enter corresponding recesses in the cylindrical part of the casting b, and interlock in grooves substantially in the manner of a bayonetjoint. The spring-barrel rests 2 5 upon a support, g, which in turn rests upon the top of the main front axle. This support is pivoted by means of a bolt, h, to the central part of the axle, but the bolt does not bear the Weight of the superstructure.

20 The loadrests upon the support, which is T- shaped, and one part of it extends down between the two parts of the main front axle to be pivoted, (see Fig. 9,) so that the support, with its load, rests on top of the axle without 5 bearing upon the bolt h, except for the mere purpose of pivoting. The spring-barrel at its lower end is provided with a V-shaped opening, and extends down between the tWo bars forming the front axle and around the support 0 9. At the point of contact between the bottom when driven to place it serves to raise the casting 12 and the boiler,so that the boiler will not rest heavily or depend upon the spring forits 0 support, but will be supported by the wedge. Fig. 4 illustrates the wedge thus in position for use of the engine as a stationary engine.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a traction-engine, the combination, with the main front axle, F, the brackets E, the T-shaped castings D, forming the front wheelaxle, the detachable arms H H, link I, gear K, the endless screw L, and the rod andhandwheel, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the main front axle, a T-shaped casting, D, a detachable arm, H, a bracket, E, and a bushing, Z, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with the main axle, a T- shaped casting, D, a bracket, E, and a detachable segmental gear, K, a rod, M, a yoke, R, with spurs engaging with the worm T, the worm-shaft Q, and apivoted bracket, V, whereby the endless screw and segmental gear can be engaged or disengaged, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the main front axle,

F, composed of two bars, 0 and P, separated from each other in the middle, the boiler-support 12, the brace-bar c, the T-shaped support 7, pivoted to the main axle, but restingupon its top, and the spring-barrel and spring, substantially as set forth. 8o

5. The combination of the main front axle, F, composed of two bars, 0 and P, separated from each other in the middle, the boiler-support I), the brace-bar c, the T-shaped support 9, pivoted to the main axle, but resting upon its top, the spring-barrel and spring, and the wedge I, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

GEORGE STRINGER.

Witnesses:

T. J. Mosnnu, J NO. E. BURR. 

